A DNA-Binding Peroxiredoxin of Coxiella burnetii Is Involved in Countering Oxidative Stress during Exponential-Phase Growth

Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that resides within the harsh, acidic confines of a lysosome-like compartment of the host cell that is termed a parasitophorous vacuole. In this study, we characterized a thiol-specific peroxidase of C. burnetii that belongs to the atypical 2-cysteine subfamily of peroxiredoxins, commonly referred to as bacterioferritin comigratory proteins (BCPs). Coxiella BCP was initially identified as a potential DNA-binding protein by two-dimensional Southwestern (SW) blots of the pathogen''s proteome, probed with biotinylated C. burnetii genomic DNA. Confirmation of the identity of the DNA-binding protein as BCP (CBU_0963) was established by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-tandem time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). Recombinant Coxiella BCP (rBCP) was generated, and its DNA binding was demonstrated by two independent methods, including SW blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). rBCP also demonstrated peroxidase activity in vitro that required thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase (Trx-TrxR). Both the DNA-binding and peroxidase activities of rBCP were lost upon heat denaturation (100°C, 10 min). Functional expression of Coxiella bcp was demonstrated by trans-complementation of an Escherichia coli bcp mutant, as evidenced by the strain''s ability to grow in an oxidative-stress growth medium containing tert-butyl hydroperoxide to levels that were indistinguishable from, or significantly greater than, those observed with its wild-type parental strain and significantly greater than bcp mutant levels (P < 0.05). rBCP was also found to protect supercoiled plasmid DNA from oxidative damage (i.e., nicking) in vitro. Maximal expression of the bcp gene coincided with the pathogen''s early (day 2 to 3) exponential-growth phase in an experiment involving synchronized infection of an epithelial (Vero) host cell line. Taken as a whole, the results show that Coxiella BCP binds DNA and likely serves to detoxify endogenous hydroperoxide byproducts of Coxiella''s metabolism during intracellular replication.Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes Q fever in humans. Growth of the pathogen is restricted to an intracellular lysosome-like compartment, termed a parasitophorous vacuole (PV). The pH (∼4.5) of the PV is ideal for C. burnetii''s acidophilic lifestyle (11, 12); however, the effect of concomitant oxidative stress on the bacterium and the defense mechanisms used to counter it have not been well characterized.Bacteria deal with oxidative stress by employing antioxidants such as glutathione, vitamins A, C, and E, and carotenoids, and they counter reactive oxygen species (ROS) by using a variety of enzymatic effectors, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and peroxidase. Previous work suggests that catalase and SOD are potential persistence factors for Coxiella bacteria residing in the intracellular niche (1, 14). In addition, a secreted acid phosphatase possibly reduces the respiratory burst of the host cell by inhibiting NADPH oxidase (4, 23). in silico analysis of the C. burnetii RSA 493 genome (22) revealed predicted Mn- and Cu/Zn-SODs, catalase, and four peroxiredoxins (Prxs), which are antioxidant enzymes (EC 1.11.1.15) that are thiol-containing reductants used to detoxify hydroperoxides. Interestingly, certain C. burnetii strains possess a frame-shifted Cu/Zn-SOD gene (e.g., Dugway) or a markedly truncated catalase gene (Nine Mile or G) (18), suggesting that these strains, likely undergoing reductive evolution in the intracellular niche, must resort to alternative effectors for protection against ROS.For this report, we characterized the Coxiella BCP (CBU_0963), a representative of a 2-cysteine (2-Cys) Prx subfamily that is widely employed by pathogenic bacteria to deal with potentially toxic H₂O₂ and organic hydroperoxides. We demonstrate that the bcp gene of Coxiella bacteria is maximally expressed during early exponential-phase growth and that BCP is a DNA-binding protein that exhibits peroxidase activity and can protect supercoiled DNA from oxidative damage in vitro.     

Roles of nonhomologous DNA end joining, V(D)J recombination, and class switch recombination in chromosomal translocations

When a single double-strand break arises in the genome, nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) is a major pathway for its repair. When double-strand breaks arise at two nonhomologous sites in the genome, NHEJ also appears to be a major pathway by which the translocated ends are joined. The mechanism of NHEJ is briefly summarized, and alternative enzymes are also discussed. V(D)J recombination and class switch recombination are specialized processes designed to create double-strand DNA breaks at specific locations in the genomes of lymphoid cells. Sporadic Burkitt's lymphoma and myelomas can arise due to translocation of the c-myc gene into the Ig heavy chain locus during class switch recombination. In other lymphoid neoplasms, the RAG complex can create double-strand breaks that result in a translocation. Such RAG-generated breaks occur at very specific nucleotides that are directly adjacent to sequences that resemble canonical heptamer/nonamer sequences characteristic of normal V(D)J recombination. This occurs in some T cell leukemias and lymphomas. The RAG complex also appears capable of recognizing regions for their altered DNA structure rather than their primary sequence, and this may account for the action by RAGs at some chromosomal translocation sites, such as at the bcl-2 major breakpoint region in the follicular lymphomas that arise in B lymphocytes.     

Microbiologically influenced corrosion in petroleum product pipelines--a review

Microbiologically influenced corrosion is responsible for most of the internal corrosion problems in oil transportation pipelines and storage tanks. One problematic area in treating gas lines is the occurrence of the stratification of water in the line. Under these conditions, corrosion inhibitors do not come into contact properly and oil and inhibitors undergo degradation. The role of bacteria on oil degradation, the consequences of oil degradation in fuel systems and its influence on corrosion have been explained in detail. Besides, factors influencing on degradation of oil and corrosion inhibitors have also been discussed. Mechanism of microbiologically influenced corrosion in oil pipeline has been explained. Many of the misapplication of biocides/inhibitors occur mainly because the characteristics of biocides/inhibitors are not considered before use in pipeline industry. List of biocides and monitoring programme have been collected from literature and presented.     

Halomonas glaciei sp. nov. isolated from fast ice of Adelie Land,Antarctica

Eleven psychrophilic bacteria were isolated from a solid layer of fast ice in the middle of Pointe-Geologie Archipelago, Adelie Land, Antarctica. The 11 isolates based on the phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis have been identified as members of the genus Halomonas. All the isolates at the 16S rDNA sequence level were identical, possessed the 15 conserved nucleotides of the family Halomonadaceae and four nucleotides of the genus Halomonas. Therefore, the 16S rDNA sequence of DD 39 was used for calculating the evolutionary distances and for phylogenetic analysis. It was observed that DD 39 formed a robust cluster with H. variabilis, from which it differed by 0.7%. Further DNA-DNA hybridization studies indicated low DNA-DNA homology (15%) between H. variabilis and DD 39. Between the 11 Antarctic isolates the homology was >85%. In addition it was observed that DD 39 was different from H. variabilis in that it was psychrophilic, could tolerate only up to 15% sodium chloride, could not hydrolyse esculin, could not reduce nitrate, was urease negative, could not utilize glycerol as a carbon source, and was resistant to ampicillin and erythromycin and sensitive to nalidixic acid. In addition, it also exhibited distinct differences with respect to high content of C(16:1) and low levels of cyclo-C(17:0) and cyclo-C(19:0). DD 39 also differed from all the other reported species of Halomonas with respect to many phenotypic characteristics. It is proposed therefore that DD 39 should be placed in the genus Halomonas as a new species that is Halomonas glaciei. The type strain of H. glaciei is DD 39(T) (MTCC 4321; JCM 11692).     

EMBRYOGENIC DETERMINATION AND RIBONUCLEIC ACID SYNTHESIS IN POLLEN GRAINS OF HYOSCYAMUS NIGER (HENBANE)

³H-uridine administered as a one- or two-hour pulse to embryogenic pollen grains of freshly excised anthers of Hyoscyamus niger (henbane) was autoradiographically localized in embryoids formed during a subsequent chase. Although continuous incubation of anthers in actinomycin D inhibited embryogenesis, a small percentage of potentially embryogenic pollen escaped inhibition if anthers were grown for at least one hour in the basal medium before actinomycin treatment. The results imply that certain pollen grains become embryogenically determined immediately after culture of the anther and that this is accompanied by the synthesis of ribonucleic acid.     

Chloroplast activities of dark-imbibed and photoinduced spores of the fernOnoclea sensibilis

Summary Chloroplast activities of dark-imbibed (non-germinating) and photoinduced (germinating) spores of the sensitive fern,Onoclea sensibilis were compared to gain insight into the germination process. There were no changes in the number of chloroplasts or in the chlorophyll contents of the spore during dark-imbibition and during the early phase of germination. Levels of increase in the Chloroplast DNA content of dark-imbibed and photoinduced spores were nearly the same and were associated with autoradiographic incorporation of [³H]thymidine into the cytoplasm. However, incorporation of the label into the nucleus occurred only during photoinduction of spores. Analysis of Chloroplast and nuclear DNA contents by dot-blot hybridization with labeled gene-specific probes has confirmed that chloroplast DNA content of the spore increases during dark-imbibition and photoinduction, while increase in nuclear DNA occurs only in photoinduced spores. Chloroplasts isolated from dark-imbibed and photoinduced spores incorporated [³H]TTP into an acid-insoluble fraction identified as DNA. The results show that physiological activities of chloroplasts of dark-imbibed and photoinduced spores ofO. sensibilis are similar and support an exclusive role for nuclear DNA synthesis in spore germination.     

The beta-glucosidases of porcine kidney.

Some of the properties of a partially purified particle bound and soluble beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) from pig kidney were compared. The soluble beta-glucosidase (1) hydrolyzed 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucoside (4-MU-beta-D-glucoside) 17 alpha-estradiol 3beta-glucoside. 17 alpha-estradiol 17beta-glucoside, and salicin, but not glucosylceramide, (2) possessed a broad pH optimum (5.5-7.0), (3) had an isoelectric point of 4.9, and (4) was inhibited by Triton X-100. Several compounds were found to be competitive inhibitors of its hydrolytic activity, gluconolactam and estrone beta-glucoside being the most effective. In contrast, a particulate beta-glucodidase purified from the same tissue (1) had an acidic pH optimum (5.0), (2) was stimulated by sodium taurocholate and 'Gaucher's factor' for the hydrolysis of both 4-MU-beta-glucosidase and glucosylceramide, and (3) was capable of catalyzing a transglucosylation reaction employing 4-MU-beta-D-glucoside or glucosylceramide as the glucosyl donor, and [14C]ceramide as acceptor.     

STUDIES ON THE GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF THE ROOT PARASITES,ALECTRA VOGELII AND STRIGA GESNERIOIDES. II. DNA SYNTHESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUIESCENT CENTER IN THE RADICLE

DNA synthetic activity in the radicle meristem of embryos of germinating seeds of the obligate root parasites, Alectra vogelii and Striga gesnerioides was followed by autoradiography of ³H-thymidine incorporation. Incorporation of ³H-thymidine occurred in the nuclei of cells destined to form the vascular tissues, ground meristem and epidermis. An analysis of the distribution of labeled nuclei demonstrated the presence of a quiescent center of 2-4 cells in the radicle at the beginning of seed germination, becoming more prominent at later stages of germination. During continued growth of the radicle which resulted in a reduction in size of the meristem, cells of the original quiescent center were activated to undergo DNA synthesis.